SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey program (5-6-0, 2-3-0 CCHA) fell to the Falcons of Bowling Green (3-8-0, 1-2-0 CCHA) by a final score of 5-3 on Friday.

The Falcons got on the board first midway through the opening period with a goal from Ryan O'Hara, but in the final minute of the period, Dawson Tritt (Spokane, Wash.) found the back of the net with help from Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) and Jared Westcott (Imperial, Mo.).

Early in the second period, Bowling Green was able to push ahead with a pair of goals from Gustav Stjernberg and Josh Nodler, but at the 9:09 mark, Westcott scored his league-leading tenth goal of the season off of a faceoff win from Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) to steal back the momentum. Then, at the 17:04 mark, Timo Bakos (Augsburg, Germany) tied up the game with assists from Westcott and Roy as the Lakers went into the second intermission knotted up at 3-3.

Both teams battled in the third period with both defenses stifling one another. However, the Falcons were able to steal the puck away and push it ahead to Brett Pfoh who scored on the breakaway, and O'Hara was able to ice the game away with an empty-netter.

Despite the loss, Westcott's three point performance had him momentarily tied for the national lead in points with 19 prior to Denver's Massimo Rizzo retaking the lead a few hours later. 

The Lakers will be looking to split the series on Saturday, Nov. 18 with puck drop scheduled for 6:07 p.m.